[Review] Soccer Slammers – Nintendo Switch

Reviewed by Kieran

Right back Atooi ya!

Before I crack on with talking about this little gem, I’d just like to share a theory I have about Atooi. I’ve thought about this a lot over the years but now that I’m finally reviewing an Atooi title, it seems like the perfect time to share my thoughts on this.

There used to be a studio by the name of Retro Studios that made incredible games for Nintendo. However, the last game that they released was DKCTF back on the Wii U in 2013. That was 5 years ago! They were based in Texas.

Now, the studio behind Soccer Slammers as well as the brilliant Xeodrifter and Mutant Mudds; to name a few, Atooi is also based in Texas and were founded in 2015. Aside from releasing on mobile, all their games are on Nintendo systems.

Coincidence? I think not. What I in fact have come to realise is that Atooi are in fact a pseudonym for Retro studios, a name they use to publish awesome little indie titles.

What do you mean Texas is a massive expanse of land?

What’s that got to do with anything?

No manners, Soccer Slammers

Soccer Slammers is the result of a very talented team wanting to take advantage of a cultural event and deliver a product that shares a synergy with aforementioned event.

Obviously, 2018 will see the FIFA World Cup held in Russia so you should all play FIFA18 right!?

Wrong!

If you have friends play Soccer Slammers.

It’s an absolute riot and lends itself so well to local multiplayer.

The premise is simple. 2 on 2 Soccer (it’s really irking me calling football soccer, football is in fact soccer and what you call football is American football but let’s save this debate for the comments below)

It’s a game of 2 halves and in classic arcade style they are short and sweet, the 1 minute halves flying by in the blink of an eye.

You have 3 buttons, shoot pass and tackle, and that’s all you’ll ever need. The matches are fun, frantic and incredibly fast paced. Very rarely will you have a moments respite. This really gives the game an arcade feel.

The pixel art is incredibly gorgeous, as you would come to expect from Jools Watsham and his team.

The sound direction really places you in the stadiums that you are in. Everything from the murmurs of the crowd to the sound of your foot on leather. It’s not Koji Kondo by any stretch of the imagination, but it is absolutely perfect for an arcade experience like this.

Fun for everyone

The joy of Soccer Slammers is just how much fun it is to play. I personally love football so it was no problem for me but the amount of people who don’t like it that enjoyed this game is testament to that fact. For example, my lovely lady doesn’t show interest in sport but when the World Cup rolls around she’ll watch every game. Soccer Slammers works in the same way. It captures the imagination and perhaps it’s the synergy with the World Cup itself or maybe it’s just because it’s a hell of a lot of fun to play.

Regardless, Soccer Slammers is the perfect multiplayer game for any occasion. Play it with friends over a few beers or with the misses cuddled up in the sofa, you can play if with strangers on the train or with co workers in between shifts.

Oh, you can also play as Mutant Mudds.

It was all yellow

There are a total of 40 playable teams to choose from, including the aforementioned Mudds. Teams have stats, as you would expect. They range from LO (1) to *(8). As well as there base stat, all the teams have kits that remain true to their countries flag colours. For example, Brazil players don the iconic yellow jersey, where as England for example are dressed all in white.

Herein lies my only gripe with this quite excellent title. Some of the kits are simply to similar, Brazil and Sweeden, for example, being almost indistinguishable from each other. It’s not enough to too greatly hinder the game though, as games are so rapid and intense that honestly, I sometimes wasn’t even sure who I was supposed to be controlling anyway.

Jules Rimet still gleaming

In conclusion, Soccer Slammers is one of the best arcade multiplayer experiences on the Nintendo Switch. It’s absolutely perfect for a quick game with friends and will definitely cause some excitement during play time due to its frantic, fantabulous fun from start to finish and the perfect accompaniment to the FIFA World Cup.

The love and care put into Soccer Slammers is of the highest order and this really shows when playing matches. Everything is smooth and colourful and the pixel art is utterly charming. I personally loved how there is a confetti like effect of the nations flag when you score a goal.

Games can sometimes be incredibly rambunctious affairs, I played matches that finished 8-6, 10-3 and 9-6 and before during and the room was awash with laughter.

It would perhaps be nice to see a replay option added at a future date as it would sometimes be interesting to see just how the ball ended up in the back of the net.

One thing is certain though, Soccer Slammers will be one of my most played games over the coming months, and in fairness, for a long time after too!

TL;DR

Insanely fun arcade soccer mayhem, best enjoyed with others yet still enjoyable as a solo experience. Absolutely beautiful pixel art, honestly some of the prettiest cuboids I ever did see. Brilliant synergy with the FIFA World Cup. A love letter to old school Soccer games, wonderfully crafted for a modern audience. If you like fun, you owe it to the universe to play Soccer Slammers.